Connecticut tribal leaders say jobs at stake if gambling not expanded

Two tribal chairmen, a delegation of casino workers, and several Democratic lawmakers warned that Connecticut could lose as many as 18,000 jobs if the state doesn’t expand gambling.

They rallied support for a bill, that would allow for the creation of up to three gaming facilities to be operated in a joint venture between the Mashantucket Pequot tribe and the Mohegan tribe.

The tribes have not released many details about their vision, but have said the smaller-scale and easy-access facilities would be designed to attract the “convenience gamer” in areas threatened by out-of-state gambling ventures.

The proposal comes a week before MGM is set to break ground on an $800 million casino in Springfield, Mass.

Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, as recently as last November, said he doesn’t “think there’s a consensus in Connecticut that people want a lot more gaming.”